FLV wrote:Thanks again guys.
Stanton is interesting. I was semi interested in the sherpa from when it came available. I had one of thier first frames (26er switch back?) It was a good bike.
Hi Dave
Same here with the 29er Sherpa. I was close to getting one.
How about the steel Kona Honzo? One, if not the most fun hardtail I've ridden sofar. Size L is long. I'd need a 30 - 40 mm stem and saddle slammed all the way forwards for all day comfort, which would make the bike even more responsive and fun. One of those bikes you feel you have to go fast all the time.
This summer I changed the head angle of two bikes, from 66.6 to 65.1 and from 68 to 66°. It has much improved the general handling as well as the climbing and descending capabilities of both bikes. Any terrain or riding speed. For gravel and road travel it may not be the best choice(?), but for stuff like doctors gate, cut gate etc. I'm convinced pretty much every bike would ride better with a flatter HA. Bold companies have already done so and others will follow. Mix that with short chainstays to get a confidence inspiring stability without loosing playful responsiveness.
Regarding short chainstays; we all have read that long chainstays are more comfy than short ones and that the front rises later... On two bikes (one beeing the new Krampus) I got to try different positions and the only noticeable change was in the handling characteristics, not comfort. Ride was just as 'harsh' (both actually quite soft) in the long setting and if the front would've risen later on climbs I can't tell for I rode/ride them ssp.
What amazed me most though, was how dead the bikes felt in the long chainstay settings. Just a few mm made quite the difference. Due to ssp setup on the Krampus I'm stuck at 450 mm at the moment and it feels horribly lame, but when setting it up with a different cog, it was at 435 mm and I loved it.
<420 mm may be über short, but in the Honzo's case you can adjust it to about 430 mm. Sweetspot on many bikes (including race worthy 160 mm 29er beasts) seems to be around 430 - 435 mm.
All this is highly subjective and you're not me but we both like to let it go downhill and I was much put off by all the bikes I testrode the last 18 months with chainstays beyond 440 mm. They might be super fast on straightish tracks and help on climbs, but they just feel dead. Dead, boring, free of life.
Oh, and if lose control on the rear wheel in a loose turn, a long front end and short back end will respond beautifully to your weight transfer to the front.
I could go on for hours and see much benefit in modern geometries from a practical pov and believe most companies will follow this movement.
Not because it's cool or sh!t, but because in mountainbiking terrain it makes sense.
Even BMC have finnaly realised that long chainstays on their Fourstroke (XC race/marathon full sus 29er) were rubbish.
If I were you, I'd look for mid range reach and head tube length you've felt comfy with lately, then a frame with a head tube capable of taking an angle set head set (many are) and adjustaböe chainstay length or one at <440 mm.
Depending on seatpost quite a lot of comfort can be had. Modern steel frames come with biggish diam. seat tubes. You could aways use a collar and go with a skinnier and more flexible seatpost for more compliance.
The current generation of British designed hardtails (not all are built here of course), specifically the steel models, are very good and it's a matter of finding one that suits you. I wasn't even looking for a quality HT when I swung a leg over a Solaris but it instantly felt "right" for me.
Big soft spot for Kona too.
